Okay guys, spoiler alert: IT'S GONNA BE THEIR SORT OF FIRST KISS. HOLY GOD I ALMOST FREAKED OUT WHILE WRITING THIS CHAPTER. I hope it's cute and whatever because OHMYGOSH THEY KISS
The week or two didn't hold much fun for Newt and Tina. Queenie's sickness intensified and there were nights when Tina cried herself to sleep, hearing Queenie hacking and wheezing and struggling to breathe; these moments, however, were the ones when she needed Newt most. He was always there for her, helping care for Queenie, making Tina sleep when she attempted to stay awake the whole night to watch her sister. By the time Queenie had thankfully made a full recovery, Newt and Tina were closer than ever.
By this time November was beginning its smooth slide into December. Frost built up on the windowpanes during the nights and Tina shoved log after log after log into the fireplace. Newt took the two Goldstein sisters and Jacob down into the suitcase with him to assure the creatures were ready for the impending cold. They seemed perfectly fine to Tina and Queenie, but they hung around with Newt anyway. The case was such a peaceful place to be in.
Then December hit hard and freezing. Whatever cold frosts had arrived in New York during November were nothing compared to this. The weather dropped violently and then became survivable again, then dropped, then rose…
One evening it started raining. The whole thing was unexpected and very spontaneous, which made it so much more wonderful. Tina spent hours gazing out of the window at the falling raindrops that danced on the dark and wet pavement, sending up sparks of water as they hit the ground. She lived in a world of hidden magic, but sometimes nature was the most magical thing of all.
Newt liked looking at Tina while she watched the rain fall. He found her love for rainfall very sweet and special.
Queenie, able to vaguely read both of their minds, knew perfectly well what they were thinking. As much as she wanted to tell them both that the other was very obviously in love as well, she supposed it would be best to let them figure it out themselves. Though the way Newt described Tina in his mind was very cute.
It was still raining the following morning, though slightly less so. The whole city seemed to be closed up in its houses, keeping out of the chill as much as it could. Newt made soup again; he was quite good at it. The Goldstein sisters greatly appreciated it.
They spent their morning reading on the couch in front of the fire. Newt, despite having already published his book on Fantastic Beasts, was intensively sketching his creatures. Tina looked at the drawings over his shoulder. He was incredibly good; she could practically see his little Bowtruckle scrambling out of the paper and climbing up onto his shoulder.
By the afternoon the rain had slowed down and become less extreme; by evening it was no more than a gentle drizzle.
"Why don't you two go outside?" Queenie offered with a knowing smirk, placing a hand on Tina's shoulder.
Tina raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure Newt doesn't want to go into the rain-"
"Oh, I do." Newt said, joining the conversation from the other side of the room.
Tina blinked. "Really?"
"Yes. Why not?"
She smiled. "Oh. Well. In that case… sure. I'd like that."
Newt stiffened, glancing at her with wide eyes. Tina instantly started worrying again.
"What is it? What did I say?" she asked, nervous.
Newt shook his head. "Nothing. It's just… those are the exact words you said to me when we said our goodbyes last year."
"What? I'd like that?"
"Yes. About my book."
Tina nodded. "Oh, of course, I remember! Don't worry, we're not parting ways now. Much too early for that."
Newt mumbled something that sounded like "good". Tina pretended she hadn't heard, but Queenie could definitely tell she was blushing.
Newt pulled on his blue coat as Tina put on her hat. Queenie quickly enchanted the hat flower's petals to look like an Occamy.
"Had to, Teenie." She chirped with a little wink.
Tina rolled her eyes but still smiled, touched by her sister's delicate eye for details.
She and Newt left the building and walked outside into the evening darkness. There was a cool, fresh smell of rain in the crisp air. Soft raindrops drizzled from the cloudy sky, dabbing Tina's hat like little falling snowflakes. She threw her head back and let the water gently shower onto her face and forehead.
"Isn't it wonderful, Newt?" she asked, eyes closed and arms outstretched.
Net gazed around him, at the raindrops, at the way they shattered into watery shards of sparkle as they hit the wet ground, at the way Tina smiled at the heavens.
"Wonderful." He agreed, eyes on her.
Tina opened her eyes and looked back at him, pleasantly surprised to see him watching her.
The drizzle thickened to rain, which seemed to further exhilarate Tina. She spun around in a circle, laughing.
"Don't you just love this weather?" she grinned excitedly.
Newt nodded. "It's not the only thing I love out here."
Tina halted, staring at him. Water dripped down her face for a full second as she absorbed what he'd just said.
Trying to gloss over that slightly awkward moment, Tina gestured with her hand for Newt to follow her.
"Come on," she said. "Let's see the city when there's no-one around."
Naturally, lots of people were outside anyway. It was New York, after all, and New York was never empty. But it seemed all the others were just props in a show, hustling about with umbrellas and edging into buildings as fast as they could.
Newt was astounded by how magical the city looked in the rain and the dark. Raindrops showered off the ends of rooftops, glittering in the light of the street-lamps. Puddles shone majestically and shattered into shards of shimmering water when Newt stepped in them. Trees drizzled rain right onto Tina's head as they swayed in the cold breeze.
Newt was captivated.
Tina watched him closely, like he'd watched her only minutes previously. There was something about Newt Scamander, something innocent and amazed by new things, that made her want to introduce him to every beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Just to watch his eyes grow wide and astonished as he soaked in each little wonder he saw along the way.
"Tina?"
She shook herself out of her stupor. "Yes, Newt?"
He reached for her hand and held it, palm warm. Tina clasped her hand around his, tightening their grips.
Newt didn't say anything for a little while, then: "Thank you."
"For what?" Tina asked, surprised.
"Everything."
She cocked her head in a way that endeared her even further to Newt. "What do you mean by that?"
Newt squeezed her hand. "You… are one of the only friends I have."
"In New York?"
"In the world."
She fell silent.
"And Queenie and Jacob, of course." Newt added quickly. "But to be honest, you were the first."
Tina smiled sadly. "Oh, Newt. I'm sure you have friends back in England. And besides, I was pretty horrible the first time we met."
"No." Newt shook his head. "I am- was- mostly alone. Until I met you. You weren't horrible, you were charming."
"Charming!" Tina chuckled. "Me!"
"Yes, charming. And after we ate dinner, when you offered Jacob and me to stay the night, you put your head to the side like that-" he showed her, cocking his head like she just had, "-as if you were asking a question. I don't know why, but that just made me more curious. And… well… endeared."
Tina froze and looked Newt in the eyes, touched.
"If we're already talking about friends," she said quietly, "You were the first. Beside Queenie, but she's my sister. I mean, let's face it, I'm not exactly a very likable person."
She gave a little laugh that held no real humor.
Newt shook his head violently.
"No." he said. "You ARE a likable person. Very likable. I like you. QUEENIE likes you. I'm sure JACOB likes you. What isn't there to like about you?"
Tina's heart hammered, her face flushing.
"Let's see." Newt went on talking. "You're sweet. Caring. Responsible. Compassionate. Brave. Powerful. Smart. Understanding. And not to mention, beautiful."
She swiped at her eyes, brushing away tears. Trying not to show how much those words meant to her. Newt knew what she was feeling, though. It was pretty obvious.
They walked on in silence for a while longer, until Tina gathered up the courage to ask in a shaky voice: "Newt, you said earlier the weather wasn't the only thing you loved outside today. What was the other thing?"
Newt stopped walking and turned to Tina. Then, to her amazement, he pressed a soft kiss against her lips, so brief and swift it could have been a warm breeze.
"You, Tina Goldstein." He said, pulling away. "I love you."